Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > January
January 2008
Fans should feel at home in new Fado
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As workers sawed, painted and hammered around him, Fado Irish Pub CEO Kieran McGill greeted us with a handshake and a hard hat Wednesday as he introduced us to his new location.
As regulars will no doubt recall, the 12-year-old Buckhead business had to close last year as the ambitious Streets of Buckhead project pushed the pub out of its old Peachtree Road address in Buckhead Village. The old location is currently a 50-foot hole as developer Ben Carter’s high-end shopping, dining, boutique hotel and nightspot vision slowly rises into reality.
But around the corner, thanks to a structure built in Ireland and installed here by the Irish Pub Company (the builders of the original site), Fado has a new home on Buckhead Avenue, adjacent to the Atlanta Fulton County Library.
“We’re very gratified to reincarnate Fado in a location very near to the original pub,” McGill told Buzz. “Last year, Ben Carter told me, ‘We want you to stay. You’re going to serve as an anchor in this neighborhood.’ “
And judging from what we toured Wednesday, Fado’s faithful should feel amazingly at home in the new space. McGill and crew brought over the old Slattery & Sons store front, the barrel racks, the windows, wooden cabinets and even the Guinness signage from the original Fado to incorporate into the new 2 1/2-level pub. The main differences: the new Fado is a bit roomier and there’s a bit more head room, thanks to elevated ceilings.
But perhaps the best added feature at the new location?
A rooftop patio for 75 patrons, complete with a polished granite bar, decorative planter boxes and one killer view of the massive Buckhead retail renovation currently under way.
McGill says the pub’s menu faves like corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips and famous boxtys are staying put as are those popular early AM televised soccer and rugby matches that are heavily attended by British ex pats and their American friends.
Alas, the inconvenient hour of the game telecasts here (the matches are played in the PM across the pond) is something McGill says won’t change either,
Quipped McGill: “The vagaries of time travel forces us to show them at that hour here.”
If city permits are issued in a timely fashion, the new Fado should be open in time for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.
A note of caution to the sometimes glacially-paced permits folks at Atlanta City Hall: We personally wouldn’t do anything to tick off Guinness-guzzling, devout Irish “football” and rugby fans …
TUCKER DROPS BY
Decatur native and “Rush Hour” star Chris Tucker made a surprise appearance Tuesday night at Morehouse College to help promote an upcoming PBS special “African American Lives 2,” a sequel to the surprisingly successful original (both co-funded by Coca-Cola).
In each special, mostly prominent blacks find out through DNA what percentage of themselves is African. Tucker, who is buds with show creator and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., took part in the first one, along with the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg. Gates, who also dug up family history stories for each person, offered a sneak preview of the special before an audience of 500-plus with Kiss 104.1 syndicated talk-show host Tom Joyner. Others who took part in the second special included Chris Rock, Morgan Freeman, Tina Turner and Don Cheadle. The special airs in two parts on Georgia Public Broadcasting Feb. 6 and 13.
ON MY IPOD & TIVO
Amanda Diva, rapper, poet, TV and radio personality: “On the iPod, there’s Lupe Fiasco’s ‘The Cool.’ I love jazz, and I saw a great Wynton Marsalis program that made me want to download this album he and his father did of all of the ‘Peanuts’ songs, ‘Joe Cool’s Blues’. Freeway, [Beanie Sigel] and [DJ] Drama’s ‘Gangsta Grillz.’ And [her own EP] ‘Life Experience.’ … You know what’s funny? Before you make your own music you can’t imagine listening to your own music — until you have it. Then it’s like, ‘This is exactly what I wanted to hear today.’ You need to be able to listen to your music like it’s not even yours, you know?
“I went on a Nina Simone kick recently too. But I think the very last song I downloaded was Earth, Wind and Fire’s ‘In the Stone.’
“And what do I TiVo? ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ ‘The Office.’ ‘30 Rock.’ ‘Project Runway.’ And ‘Best Week Ever,’ of course [which she contributes to]. “
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actress Carol Channing is 87. Actress Jessica Walter (“Arrested Development”) is 67. Singer Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band is 57. Singer Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols is 52. Actor Anthony LaPaglia (“Without a Trace”) is 49. Actress Minnie Driver is 38. Actress Portia de Rossi (“Arrested Development,” “Ally McBeal”) is 35. Actress Kerry Washington (“Ray”) is 31. Singer Justin Timberlake is 27.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I don’t ever want to serve another drink. That’s why this was so important to me.”
Inaugural “American Idol” winner and retired cocktail waitress Kelly Clarkson on Q100’s “Bert Show” Wednesday, discussing why she’s worked with a business adviser to ensure her lifelong financial security. Clarkson added that she chides cheapskate friends who don’t tip servers adequately.
Contributing: Rodney Ho, Sonia Murray and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Controversy over cutting of ‘Boondocks’ episodes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sooner or later, any satirist who wins a Peabody Award for re-animating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and having him denounce “Soul Plane” runs the risk of upsetting corporate America.
That’s one theory being floated this week as “The Boondocks” creator Aaron McGruder informs faithful viewers of his edgy, irreverent Adult Swim series that Cartoon Network has unexpectedly shortened the ‘toon’s second season from a planned 15-episode run to 13.
Fifteen episodes were in fact produced but two, titled “The Huey Freeman Hunger Strike” and “The Ruckus Reality Show” aren’t currently scheduled to air, allegedly due to controversial material targeting Black Entertainment Television executives.
On his Myspace.com page, McGruder has posted the following message to fans: “Okay, so … maybe it’s a 13-episode season.” More cryptically, links to YouTube clips said to contain content from the episodes posted on McGruder’s Myspace page have been mysteriously taken down (when users click on the links to the clips to view them, a “We’re sorry, this video is no longer available” message pops up instead).
Cartoon Network public relations senior vice president James Anderson confirmed to us Tuesday that the two episodes in question “will not be airing on Adult Swim.” Anderson graciously declined further comment on the issue.
Since it’s practically impossible for a YouTube video clip to suddenly vaporize on the Internet (Buzz has been trying unsuccessfully to get footage of our third-grade spelling bee yanked for weeks …), we’re surmising that lawyers may have been introduced into the dust-up.
Conspiracy-minded, blogging “Boondocks” fans online are now busy posting endless theories and wondering whether the two episodes will be included in the show’s second season DVD set, tentatively due out later this year.
At deadline Tuesday, it remained unclear whether or not the content would eventually become available at retail or online.
One thing’s certain: controversy has never exactly been bad for business regarding McGruder’s work or for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim brand.
And this time, a large chunk of Boston didn’t have to be shut down …
TOUCHING DOWN ON ‘RACHAEL RAY’
Sure, this season has been the stuff of nightmares (not to mention hangovers) for the Atlanta Falcons and their fans.
But hey, at least Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington got to meet Rachael Ray.
Harrington, along with New York Giants legend Ottis Anderson and New York Jets offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, turns up on Friday’s episode of the Food Network fixture’s syndicated daily talk show, “Rachael Ray” (seen locally on WXIA at 3 p.m.). The trio and Ray demonstrate Super Bowl party recipes. The cookoff judge: Mario Batali.
We’re told that Harrington dazzled Ray by whipping up his recipes for homemade baby back ribs and a corn potato mash-up. Viewers will have to tune in to see if Harrington wins the competition.
OVERSCENE
“Bones” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” actor David Boreanaz hanging at Thrive nightclub and restaurant downtown. … Country singers Billy Ray Cyrus and Joe Nichols performing separate lunchtime concerts sponsored by Kicks 101.5 FM at Trilogy restaurant in east Cobb County. On Tuesday, Nichols, the singer behind “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” downed a few gallons of java and performed an hourlong set for fans. Later, he treated himself to a BLT salad, a sloppy jose (jalapeno cornbread topped with braised, shredded skirt steak), skillet beans and some chili lime tilapia.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Gene Hackman is 78. Actress Vanessa Redgrave is 71. Singer Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is 66. Musician Phil Collins is 57. Actor Charles S. Dutton (“Roc”) is 57. Comedian Brett Butler (“Grace Under Fire”) is 50. Actor Christian Bale is 34. Singer Josh Kelley is 28. Actor Wilmer Valderrama (“That ’70s Show”) is 28.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I probably would have gone back to college and taught acting or taught dramatic literature in some way. I could have lived in Atlanta and worked in the great theaters there. That would have made me feel really happy. That’s what my goal was: to find a city that had good regional theater, move there and be part of a company and have a family.”
“Juno” actress and Georgia Shakespeare Festival alum
Jennifer Garner (above) in the U.K.’s Independent newspaper.
SICK BAY
Wallace recovering from surgery
Mike Wallace is recovering from triple heart bypass surgery he had last week, reports CBS News. Wallace, who will turn 90 this spring, already is walking. Doctors are calling the operation “a great success,” the network said. The veteran “60 Minutes” correspondent recently interviewed Roger Clemens about allegations of steroid use.
Contributing: News services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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R.E.M.’s next album back to rock roots
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to advance reports, longtime R.E.M. fans should be pleased when the Athens-birthed band’s new album “Accelerate” drops on April 1.
According to Billboard writer Jonathan Cohen, who’s heard an advance copy of the disc (Surely, Buzz’s copy is in the mail …), listeners can anticipate a return to the band’s rockier roots on the upcoming 11-track, approximately 35-minute set.
Reports Cohen on billboard.com: “Opener ‘Living Well’s the Best Revenge’ sets the tone, with a prominent lead guitar figure from Peter Buck, thumping, melodic bass lines and backing vocals from Mike Mills and a rapid stream of lyrics from frontman Michael Stipe. The track almost seems like a musical cousin to ‘Just a Touch’ from 1986’s ‘Life’s Rich Pageant.’ “
The album’s uptempo first single, “Supernatural Superserious,” is due to hit radio next month, and the band was in New York last week to shoot a video for the track (we’re assuming this is for posting on youtube.com and remhq.com, the band’s official Web site, since the act, like most bands, would get more exposure on the virtually video-free MTV these days by doing a guest shot on “The Hills”…).
The band also has posted a snippet of the single for fans to check out on its Web site.
On remhq.com, band manager Bertis Downs posted this message to fans from New York City: “While here we made a video in the Lower East Side, filmed by Vincent Moon of Arcade Fire (among many other artists) fame. Vincent’s working style is spontaneous and fun-loving, so going from storefront to storefront on Rivington Street was certainly a unique and memorable experience. And of course, in the age of YouTube, we already have ‘rushes’ on the Web.”
The band also has announced a tour in support of “Accelerate” that’s set to commence in Vancouver on May 23 and end locally at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre on June 21. On sale dates weren’t immediately known at deadline Monday.
EX-BRAVE RAMIREZ NOW AN EX-BACHELOR
Before reporting for spring training as a Seattle Mariner next month, former Atlanta Braves pitcher Horacio Ramirez tied the knot with Veronica Palacios in Atlanta over the weekend. The Mableton couple were married at Morningside Baptist Church in Atlanta, exiting the nuptials to a mariachi band. The couple, family and friends then headed to the Twelve hotel to celebrate. EventScapes rep Sharon Kraun told Buzz on Monday that the entire soiree was assembled in less than a month. The Atlanta-based special events firm handled the flowers and decorations. EventScapes owner J Wilbur Smith said via e-mail: “The couple wanted to include a nod to their cultural heritage with an elegant, but effervescent feel, to the nuptial decorations.”
The wedding guests partied at Atlantic Station’s Twelve hotel’s ballroom, complete with a salsa band and buffet stations offering everything from steak to sushi. A portion of the ballroom also was transformed into a cozy lounge with sofas, throws and coffee tables.
Following dinner, a DJ spun dance music and guests later enjoyed another full spread of ballpark food and s’mores served up on the back patio fire pits. We’re told the couple is now in the Caribbean on their honeymoon.
ON MY TIVO AND IPOD
Patti LaBelle, veteran R&B singer whose new Good Life line of foods includes hot sauces and relishes:
“I like ‘Forensic Files’ and the Discovery Channel, watching the animals and mobster movies and gangster movies,” said LaBelle who headlines the Hands On Atlanta benefit concert Thursday at Philips Arena downtown. “There’s a dark side to Miss Patti. I like dark days and rain and snow. I don’t like sun, and I don’t like water. I don’t even listen to music in my free time. I’m a very strange person. When I’m home with free time, like today, I just flip channels and think about what I’m going to cook.”
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor John Forsythe is 90. Actress Katharine Ross is 68. Actor Tom Selleck is 63. Singer Bettye LaVette is 62. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey (above) is 54. Director-actor Ed Burns is 40. Actress Heather Graham is 38. Actor Sharif Atkins (“ER”) is 33. Actress Sara Gilbert (“ER,” “Roseanne”) is 33. Actor Andrew Keegan (“Party of Five”) is 29. Guitarist Jonny Lang is 27.
OVERSCENE
NHL strike force
Players assembled here for the NHL All-Star game, including: Atlanta Thrashers Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk (right), along with Brian Campbell, Jarome Iginla, Dion Phaneuf, Rick Nash, Joe Thornton, Alex Ovechkin, Zdeno Chara, Thomas Kaberle, Scott Gomez, Mike Richards, Erik Johnson and Rick DiPietro bowling at Ten Pin Alley at Atlantic Station. CNNers T.J. Holmes and Betty Nguyen also were spotted. We’re told that Kovalchuk even treated family and friends to three lanes of VIP bowling.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Celebrities come out for All-Star event
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s not always easy to spot a celebrity, even if you know one is in your midst. For example, Buzz swears we saw that dude from “Weeds” (Andy Milder) walking around Philips on Saturday night during the 2008 NHL All-Star weekend.
But it’s like anything else, when you stop looking, that’s when you walk within two feet of Matthew Modine (“Vision Quest,” “Full Metal Jacket,” and also — hmmm, “Weeds”) in the club lounge. Modine, looking all slick and Zamboni’d in dark suit and a goatee, had center-ice seats about 10 rows up. He was on a guest list that included The Hives, actress Alyssa Milano and Taylor Kitsch, the “Friday Night Lights” star who was a judge in Saturday night’s SuperSkills event. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the events.
THIRD PERIOD: A HUGE HIT
There’s nothing like the screech of adolescents at 10 a.m. Hockey was supposed to be the focus this weekend, but the loudest screams were for the Jonas Brothers at the Verizon Wireless/NHL Rockin Skate Saturday at Philips. And when the pop-rock trio actually got on stage for its closing eight-song set — wow!
Fans were beyond psyched. Peachtree City 14-year-olds Taylor Kemp, Katie Ginther and Jessica McCloskey displayed a homemade sign that read: “Hello Beautiful Hold On To Your S.O.S. When You Look Me In The Eyes” — a greeting made up of songs from the Disney stars’ latest self-titled CD.
The long-haired pin-up Kitsch co-hosted, along with Milano and Atlanta’s five-time Grammy winner Usher (whose nonprofit organization New Look benefited from the ticket sales).
But even the one-time teen fave himself seemed to realize that those in the half-full arena wanted to hear the Jonas Brothers. The mostly up-tempo show (“Year 3000,” “That’s Just The Way We Roll”) slowed only twice. The girls raised their cellphones and free glo sticks to “Hello Beautiful” and “When You Look Me In The Eyes.” The trio closed with the charging “S.O.S.” For a touching yet hilarious snapshot of innocent youth, check out the reader comments at ajc.com’s Music Scene blog. Here are some of our “faves.”
“When they showed them walking into the arena on the big screen, I screamed so loud and so strong I almost fainted! I almost fainted when they came out on stage! I love the Jonas Brothers!”
“THAT WAS THE MOST AMAZING CONCERT EVER!!! The goodnight and goodbye dance. Not to mention that Joe was staring at me the whole concert. He waved and smiled at me too. Not even kidding.”
“We saw their limo leave and … you could see through so we waved and Kevin waved back and Joe rolled down the window and said thanx for coming, hope you guyz enjoyed it!! We said we did … but we were so embarrassed when they rolled the window down cause their CD was playing in our car.”
SECOND PERIOD:TOP LINE
So, what’s Milano been up to since making those guest appearances on “My Name is Earl?” Designing high-fashion hockey gear for the gals, of course.
Milano (“Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” “Poison Ivy II” and “Who’s the Boss”) used the event to launch Touch, a new line of clothing for female hockey fans. The line is very body-conscious and includes tops, denim, dresses and outerwear priced from about $50 to $100. The merchandise will be available for purchase in early spring at www.shopnhl.com and selected boutiques throughout the U.S. and Canada. From what we’ve seen so far, Touch might land overzealous male fans in the penalty box.
FIRST PERIOD: OPENING FACE-OFF
Though Usher walked the red carpet at the Wyclef Jean concert to kick off the weekend at the Tabernacle on Friday, he did not discuss his father’s death days earlier, his campaign appearance with Barack Obama on Tuesday or his New Look Foundation.
On stage, however, he warmly welcomed the near-capacity crowd and paused a few times for applause and adoration. “It’s all about the love in here tonight,” he remarked.
Actually, the Jean concert was about a lot of things. Before the talented musician wrapped up his set after midnight, he had addressed the country’s economic state (“I love America — we’re going in a recession right now”); poked fun at the president; flashed back to his days with the pioneering hip-hop trio the Fugees (playing “Fu-Gee-La” and “Ready Or Not”); and welcomed Atlanta rapper-producer Akon to the stage (with whom he performed Jean’s recent single “Sweetest Girl - Dollar Bill”). Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the NHL, Atlanta City Council member Kwanza Hall, Bert Weiss of Q100’s “The Bert Show”, Slim of 112, and Nicci Gilbert of Brownstone all attended.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Alan Alda is 72. Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan is 40. Rap artist DJ Muggs with Cypress Hill is 40. Rapper Rakim is 40. Singer Joey Fatone of ‘N Sync is 31. Singer Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys is 28. Actor Elijah Wood (“The Lord of the Rings”) is 27.
OVERSCENE
An Eagle Fly-By
Reggie Brown at the Mellow Mushroom on Monroe Drive, where the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver (and former UGA star) was having a pepperoni, sausage, green pepper, roasted red pepper and pesto calzone with a shot of Crown Royal to wash it all down.
Contributing: Nedra Rhone, Sonia Murray and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Osmond call has Ga. Secty. of State screaming like a girl
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As other Republican candidates scoop up the survivors of the Fred Thompson campaign, it’s helpful to review the steps some presidential operations are willing to take in order to tap into a local figure’s network of political contacts.
Last May, Georgia’s Secretary of State Karen Handel had a leisurely, get-to-know-me session with a visiting Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor.
As the more weighty aspects of the conversation tailed off, the subject of Romney’s time in Salt Lake City as savior of the 2002 Winter Olympics arose.
Handel wondered out loud whether Romney knew Donny Osmond, who was rumored to live in Utah. He said, yes, he knew the family.
Politicians often wear their frailties on their sleeves.
For Handel, an otherwise intelligent and mature 45-year-old woman of serious accomplishment, it is a lifelong crush on a boy pop singer. She still suffers from puppy love.
She has “The Best of Donny Osmond” on her iPhone.
“It is a specific age group. It’s for those of us who are between 40 and 48,” Handel explained.
With Romney and Handel that particular day in May was Eric Tanenblatt, former chief of staff to Gov. Sonny Perdue and Romney’s man in Georgia. Tanenblatt can recognize an opportunity when he sees one.
The next month, Handel found a follow-up conference call with Romney on her calendar.
“The phone rings, and it was ‘Hi, Karen, this is Donny,’ ” Handel recounted.
“Donny who?”
“Donny Osmond.”
Handel confirmed widespread reports that teenage-style screaming echoed through the state Capitol. But she says the conversation itself was a blur.
And there were witnesses. After Handel and her idol hung up their phones, so did a half-dozen satisfied Romney operatives in Boston, who had been monitoring the call.
It is important to note that Handel, whose job it is to supervise state elections, hasn’t made an endorsement thus far in the 2008 presidential race.
“I’m really just not on fire about any one candidate at this point,” she said.
GOODBYE AND ‘GOOD RIDDANCE’
On Friday at 5:30 a.m., 99X ended its 15-plus years on Atlanta’s FM dial with Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” — a cliché for some, given the song’s regular use at high school graduations and in nostalgic TV farewell montages.
At 4:50 a.m., after playing the seminal alternative rock song of the ’90s, Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” 99X’s overnight jock Doug Harding offered up a final nostalgic farewell, name-checking all the major players from the station over the years. That led into U2’s “One,” followed by a rather dark, cynical set of songs: R.E.M.’s “Radio Song,” Stone Temple Pilots’ “Dead and Bloated,” Nirvana’s “All Apologies,” Soundgarden’s “Fell on Black Days,” Pearl Jam’s “Black” and Jeff Buckley’s “Last Goodbye.”
100.5 is expected to be Rock 100.5 starting Monday morning, though the exact rock music format is unclear. Buzz’s guess: a 96 Rock clone to complement a return of the Regular Guys.
An Internet-only version of 99X will live on with original 99X jock Axel Lowe and a gal named Jillian identified as the “air staff.”
Dave FM, in a shrewd marketing move, Friday offered up an on-air tribute to 99X, thanking its co-creator Leslie Fram for her work over the years, effectively telling exiled 99X fans that Dave is now the place for them to move.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Saturday: Actor Paul Newman is 83. Actor David Strathairn is 59. Singer Lucinda Williams is 55. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen is 53. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres is 50. Gospel singer Kirk Franklin is 38.
Sunday: Actor James Cromwell (“Babe”) is 68. Drummer Nick Mason of Pink Floyd is 63. Singer Nedra Talley of the Ronettes is 62. Dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov is 60. Actress Mimi Rogers is 52. Singer Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies is 47. Actress Bridget Fonda is 44. Actor Alan Cumming (“Spy Kids”) is 43. Country singer Tracy Lawrence is 40. Rapper Tricky is 40.
HIGH-FIVE
Music
The top albums purchased this week at Decatur CD:
1. Radiohead, “In Rainbows”
2. Drive-By Truckers, “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark”
3. Magnetic Fields, “Distortion”
4. Various Artists, “Juno” soundtrack
5. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, “100 Days, 100 Nights”
Courtesy: Decatur CD
SICK BAY
Film critic Roger Ebert, who has undergone a series of cancer surgeries, was recovering Friday after having yet another operation.
Ebert, 65, had successful surgery Thursday in Houston to address complications from previous operations, his lawyer said in a statement.
“Chaz and Roger Ebert are grateful to everyone for the continued prayers and concern,” lawyer Eliot Ephraim said Friday. “The surgery went well, and the Eberts look forward to giving you more good news about Roger’s recovery in the days to come.”
Ephraim did not give further details. Ebert has been a film critic at the Chicago Sun-Times for more than 40 years. He has undergone a series of operations, including the removal of a growth on his salivary gland and a tracheostomy.
Contributing: Jim Galloway, Rodney Ho and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Seacrest at Super Bowl not a stretch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ryan Seacrest being the red carpet host for the pre-Super Bowl show Feb. 3 is not surprising at all. What’s surprising is he was a starting football player at Dunwoody High School in the early 1990s.
“In junior high, I was short and stocky so I was an offensive guard,” he told the media during a news conference. “But by high school, I lost weight and gained speed, so I became a strong safety.” His team even played a team in Valdosta for a championship in 1992 — but lost.
We’d love to show you photos from Seacrest’s gridiron glory, but his mother, Connie, told Buzz she already had sent the incriminating shots to her son’s business office since Fox had requested them.
Connie said she always worried about her son getting hurt in high school and was relieved when he escaped unscathed. “I think he really gets a kick out of doing the Super Bowl,” she said. “He can talk the talk. He knows the lingo.”
Seacrest won’t say whether he’s favoring the Giants or the Patriots, but said his clearest childhood memory was rooting for the Chicago Bears wearing a William “Refrigerator” Perry jersey as an 11-year-old. Now that’s a photo we wish we had.
LOCALS ON BRAVO
The folks at Bravo are pretty tight-lipped about two new contestants appearing on Season 4 of the popular series “Top Chef,” but we know who they are: Atlanta chefs Richard Blais and Nimma Osman. The season, which doesn’t air until March 12, includes these two culinarians in a cook-off to the finish — though how both fare will have to remain a mystery since neither is able to comment until Bravo gives them the OK. Senior press manager for Bravo Communications, Victoria Brody, says the embargo for interviews will be lifted as the new season nears.
Blais, 35, became a force on the local dining scene back in 2004 when he created his infamous foie gras milkshake at his eponymous restaurant, Blais, which opened, then closed, in a half year’s span. It was long enough for devoted Atlanta foodies to take notice of his fresh take on molecular gastronomy, and stints at Bazarre, One Midtown Kitchen and most recently the lovely-but-short-lived Element in Midtown garnered Blais a devoted fan base. He’s described on the show’s Web site as a “culinary designer” — something he’s been doing at Elevation in Kennesaw by designing and consulting with the new restaurant’s menu, which includes his vanilla panna cotta with Coca-Cola rocks and Cracker Jacks.
Osman, 26, is less known — she worked as garde-manger for Repast in Midtown for “less than a year,” according to sous chef Mike Bacha (chef-owner Joe Truex was not available for comment). “She’s a young chef,” Bacha allowed. “We all wish her well.” According to Bravo’s Web site, Osman is from Peachtree City and is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. But she is no longer working at Repast, though the information released by Bravo claims she does. Ian Winslade, the new chef at soon-to-open Spice Market in Midtown, confirmed Wednesday that Osman “has been extended an offer of employment,” though he would not confirm if it was in the kitchen, or working as part of the Jean-Georges Vongerichten concept’s front-of-the-house staff.
RESCHEDULED
The Barry Manilow concert at Philips Arena that was postponed because of our Southern Snowbia has a new date — March 29. When it could never snow. Tickets purchased for the original show last week will be honored on the new date. Visit www.livenation.com for more information.
Bon Jovi will be back for an encore performance at Philips Arena.
Already on the local concert schedule for April 30, the band announced late Tuesday it will return to the arena one night later for a second show.
It will be a busy stretch for New Jersey rockers at Philips, which on April 25 will host Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Tickets to Bon Jovi’s May 1 performance go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at all Ticketmaster outlets or online at ticketmaster.com.
WINEHOUSE IN REHAB
Amy Winehouse, beset by allegations of substance abuse, entered a rehabilitation facility Thursday to battle drug addiction.
The announcement came just days after the 24-year-old singer was pictured in a British tabloid inhaling fumes from a small pipe. “Amy decided to enter the facility today after talks with her record label, management, family and doctors,” Universal Music Group said in a statement.
Winehouse has been nominated for six Grammy Awards for her “Back to Black” album. The statement indicated she still planned to attend and perform at the Grammys on Feb. 10 in Los Angeles.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Dean Jones is 77. Country singer Claude Gray is 76. Blues singer Etta James is 70. Actress Dinah Manoff (“Empty Nest”) is 50. Country drummer Mike Burch of River Road is 42. Actress Ana Ortiz (“Ugly Betty”) is 37. Singer Alicia Keys is 27.
Contributing: Meridith Ford, Rodney Ho and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Atlanta actress ready for her close-up on ‘Y&R’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When fledgling Atlanta actress TaNeisha Bennett debuts Thursday on “The Young and the Restless” on WGCL at 12:30 p.m., her biggest fan will be tuned in.
Bennett’s grandmother, Ella Bennett, has been a faithful viewer of the CBS soap for more than three decades. Last fall, her granddaughter beat out hundreds of other local thespians during a soap screen test here and was flown to Hollywood this month to tape episodes airing today, Friday and Jan. 30.
“My grandmother is 84 and she doesn’t get excited about anything,” Bennett explained to Buzz, laughing. “I’ve graduated college and bought a house, but when I got cast on [‘Y&R’] she was over the moon!”
Natch, Grandma wanted a full report on her faves Jeanne Cooper and Jess Walton, who play Katherine Chancellor and Jill Foster Abbott, the soap’s legendary battling mother-and-daughter duo.
“Since I play Sally Rollins, a finalist in their Jabot ‘Star Faces’ competition, I got to work with both of them,” Bennett says. “I had to meet Jeanne Cooper. She’s got this wonderfully dry sense of humor and she’s very old-school Hollywood. She had everyone laughing right before shooting.”
Bennett says she was shocked when the soap’s casting reps asked her to extend her stay so she could shoot two additional days.
“I’m a flight attendant and so my schedule is always flexible,” Bennett told Buzz. “I was like, ‘Are you kidding? I think I can work something out!’ You work really fast but there’s a dialogue coach right there on set and everyone gets to keep their script with them until right before the scene shoots so you’re aware of your lines.”
Still, Bennett concedes that the on-screen drama takes some getting used to.
“I felt bad for Adrienne Frantz [who plays troublemaker Amber],” Bennett says. “She had to have this big emotional breakdown in one scene and then we all immediately went to lunch. You have to learn to switch gears quickly. But it was great to be a real actor for a week. It also reaffirmed for me that this is definitely what I want to do.”
ALL-STARS ADDED
The National Hockey League is taking even more advantage of having its All-Star weekend in Atlanta by adding yet another Atlanta act to its musical lineup.
Five-time Grammy nominee Ne-Yo will be a part of the halftime activities Sunday at the All-Star Game at Philips Arena. (Previously, the R&B singer-songwriter was just scheduled to perform at a private party the night before — which he will still do.)
Ne-Yo will join Atlanta’s Usher in the festivities, who, as previously announced, will host the Wyclef Jean concert Friday at the Tabernacle — benefiting the R&B superstar’s New Look foundation — as well as the Rockin’ Skate Saturday with the Jonas Brothers and Taylor Kitsch.
Ne-Yo’s performance of his single “Because of You” isn’t the only announcement the NHL made Wednesday. Swedish rockers The Hives will do “Tick Tick Boom.” And the act will be joined by the Atlanta Boy Choir — yes, that’s even more hometown appreciation — singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards and the Halftime Live marching band.
CELEBRITY DOCKET
The ever-unpredictable Britney Spears opted to bolt from a Los Angeles courthouse Wednesday before ever setting foot in her child-custody hearing, which went on without her — and ended with a court commissioner upholding an order suspending her visitation rights.
The pop star came to the courthouse to seek visits with her two boys, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, entered the building and went through security screening. But she suddenly stated that she wanted to leave and was driven away, spokesman Allan Parachini said.
Upstairs, Commissioner Scott Gordon went ahead with a closed hearing, and “notice was taken of Miss Spears’ absence,” Parachini said. Spears’ lawyer argued that she be allowed to have visits, and ex-husband Kevin Federline — who showed up for the hearing — was asked a few questions that required yes or no answers, Parachini said.
In the end, Gordon made no change to the order suspending her visitation rights. The hearing was not scheduled and Spears was not ordered to be there, Parachini said.
The next hearing is set for Feb. 4, at which time Spears’ attorneys will inexplicably ask permission to withdraw from the case. A hearing on custody is set for Feb. 19.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Ernest Borgnine is 91. Singer Neil Diamond is 67. Actress Matthew Lillard (“Scooby Doo,” “She’s All That”) is 38. Actor Ed Helms (“The Office”) is 34. Actress Mischa Barton (above) (“The O.C.”) is 22.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“A crisp, clear day begins with a walk or jog through Piedmont Park, the city’s century-old ‘common ground,’ which stretches north from 10th Street. Pathways wind through 189 acres of sweeping lawns, offering unparalleled views of the Midtown skyline.”
New York Times Escapes writer Kevin Sack making that drought-depleted, traffic-choked, lane-limited, steel plate-plagued, sewer pipe strewn section of our fair city sound downright appealing in Saturday’s edition.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Jimmy Carter-crafted bench up for bid
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Between book tours, world peace initiatives, wine-making, Sunday school classes and “Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains” film junkets with Jonathan Demme, former President Jimmy Carter has somehow found time to create another original in his Plains woodworking shop for the annual Carter Center benefit.
Advance online bidding is now open for a gorgeous hard maple wood bench handcrafted by Carter.
That signature item, along with “an array of rare presidential memorabilia” will go up for bid Feb. 9, to help support the work of the not-for-profit Carter Center, advancing peace and health worldwide.
The live and silent auctions, both open to the public, are now posted online for advance bidders at www.cartercenter.org. The live auction will take place Feb. 9 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., during the center’s annual Winter Weekend celebration and benefit.
As Buzz readers will recall, last year’s signature piece created by Carter — a baby cradle of unusual tiger wood — sold for a whopping $300,000. Carter Center reps tell Buzz that this year’s maple bench stands 32 inches tall, 18 inches wide, and 76 inches long.
“This annual auction provides critical support for the Carter Center’s work,” Carter said via a statement sent to Buzz. “Working together, we can continue to help people around the world create healthier and more peaceful lives for themselves, building hope for us all.”
Other one-of-a-kind auction items culled from the Carters include the following keepsakes: signed photos of Carter and others including one signed by: Rosalynn Carter, Carter, Al Gore, Tipper Gore, George H.W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Betty Ford, and Gerald Ford, a bottle of Carter’s homemade, private-label wine, a two-night fly fishing trip with President and Mrs. Carter, rare prints of Carter’s paintings and, oh, a spare copy of the Camp David Accords signed by Carter and late Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Dr. Jehan Sadat, widow of late Egypt President Anwar Sadat. While it does not appear on the document, a signature of Anwar Sadat is included with the auction item. For info: www.cartercenter.org.
LOCAL ‘JOE’ ON SPIKE
With dozens of reality TV shows out there, plenty of “average joes” are getting airtime. Spike TV’s “Pros vs. Joes” literally provides frustrated athletic “joes” a chance to square off in challenges vs. professionals. Matt Still, 27, of McDonough gets his chance tonight at 11 on the third-season debut, squaring off against the likes of pro wrestler Kurt Angle and former NBA player Kendall Gill. “I’m a pretty good junk talker,” he said. His nickname? The not-so-macho “Big Perm” because of his tight swath of curly hair. He noted his ultra-competitive nature: “I play in a church basketball league, and I get the most technical fouls out there. I like to make calls for the referees and point out their mistakes.”
STORK REPORT
It’s a girl!
Caroline Kiernan Roth, daughter of Atlanta Peach publisher Elizabeth Schulte Roth and husband Thomas, was born at 5:01 a.m. Jan 20. Caroline, named after Elizabeth Roth’s late sister, arrived at 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and everyone’s doing great. So well that mom still plans to make her presentation for the Niche Publishers conference at the end of the month.
FUNERAL SET FOR USHER’S DAD
A funeral and burial are planned today for the father of R&B star Usher, a funeral home employee reports to The Associated Press.
Jackie Taylor with Taylor Funeral Home in Chattanooga said 52-year-old Usher Raymond III died Friday at an Atlanta hospital. Taylor did not know the cause of death. The services are to be held in Chattanooga, where the elder Raymond lived. It couldn’t immediately be determined the nature of the relationship between father and son at the time of the elder Usher’s passing.
Most Usher fans know that Jonetta Patton, the singer’s mother, is widely credited for raising her boys as a single parent while helping to launch Usher’s career.
Usher’s publicist, Patti Webster, did not immediately return calls for comment.
The Grammy-winning Usher and his wife recently celebrated the birth of their son, Usher Raymond V.
OSCAR ‘RUSH’ FOR SIXTH-GRADER?
Jamia Nash, a Gwinnett County sixth-grader, could be singing before the world at the Academy Awards.
Jamia, who had a small part in the November-released movie “August Rush,” is the lead singer of “Raise It Up,” one of five nominees for the Oscar award for best song, announced Tuesday.
“She doesn’t know about it yet because she’s in school,” Jamia’s father James said. “I’m going to actually call her school and have them announce it.”
Jamia, 11, is not actually nominated for the award. The nominees are the song’s writers. But she and a theater group will sing “Raise It Up” at the Oscars if the Hollywood writers’ strike is resolved in time. The award show is set for Feb. 24.
“I am just praying that Jamia will get to sing at the Oscars,” said Anastasia Brown, the movie’s music supervisor.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actress Chita Rivera is 75. Singer Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters is 60. Keyboardist Danny Federici of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is 58. Singer-guitarist Robin Zander of Cheap Trick is 55. Singer Anita Baker is 50. Actress Mariska Hargitay (“Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”) is 44. Actress Tiffani Thiessen (“Beverly Hills, 90210”) is 34.
Contributing: Jennifer Brett, Rodney Ho, Ken Sugiura and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
Heath Ledger found dead
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Brokeback Mountain” actor Heath Ledger has been found dead in Manhattan residence, according to reports.
Reports on TMZ.com and PageSix.com say that a New York Police Department spokesman confirmed the 28-year-old actor, who recently broke up with actress Michelle Williams, was found by his housekeeper Tuesday.
The Oscar-nominated actor’s most recent role was the upcoming Batman flick “The Dark Knight.”
Check back for more details.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Pride Fest out of park, into civic center
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Pride Festival has signed a contract to have its event over the July 4 weekend at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, festival organizer Jennifer Sheffield said Friday. The Atlanta Pride Committee paid between $60,000 to $80,000 for the space. The annual event — which usually attracts about 300,000 people — was moved out of its usual home, Piedmont Park, because of the drought.
In related news, we’re told Dogwood Festival organizers also are seeking alternatives for their annual bash. Stay tuned.
Bert’s Big Heart
Bert’s Big Adventure, which arranges trips to Disney World for chronically or terminally ill children and their families, held a Jan. 10 meet and greet for the group going next month.
Thirteen children (including Brianna Hill, 6, of Cartersville,) and their families visited with Q100’s Bert Weiss and his wife, Stacey, who established Bert’s Big Adventure as a nonprofit organization in 2002. For information see www.Berts BigAdventure.org.
Calling all talented Braves fans
If your love for baseball is eclipsed only by your impregnable self confidence, listen up. The Atlanta Braves will host open auditions at Turner Field for members of their “game entertainment teams” in coming days.
Tryouts for the Tomahawk team will be 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 23 and 24. These hardy souls are “high-energy, spirited individuals with the ability to engage fans, work within a family environment and perform in front of large crowds,” according to a release. Auditions for game entertainment hosts are 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 28 and 29. These crowd pleasers “must have the ability to interact with fans in the stands and in Fan Plaza. Hosts must be comfortable performing in the spotlight in front of thousands of Braves fans at Turner Field.” For these high-profile positions, the Bravos prefer “previous emcee experience.”
And finally, tryouts for the Heavy Hitters drum line are 5 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 and 31. These power players perform before, during and after Braves games at Turner Field and should be “musicians with confidence and charisma, a flexible schedule, and the ability to work games in their entirety.” Those interested in showcasing their talents should call 404-614-2441 or e-mail Braves .Entertainment@braves .com to set up an appointment. Walk ups will be auditioned first-come, first-served. More information: www.Braves.com/auditions.
Bald is beautiful
Speaking of those with robust self esteem, St. Baldrick’s, which raises money for childhood cancer research, is looking for folks to lose their locks for a great cause. The 2008 St. Baldrick’s Foundation event will be held at the new Fado Irish Pub in Buckhead, near the intersection of Buckhead Avenue and North Fulton Drive, at 2 p.m. March 15.
Volunteers round up their buddies to pay to see their pates, raising funds while razing scalps. Event organizers are Donal and Karen Fleming, Irish natives now living in Dunwoody. They became involved with St. Baldrick’s after their daughter, Ciara, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma just before turning 2. She endured 48 weeks of chemotherapy and is now a happy, healthy 8-year-old. She and her parents are ambassadors for children with cancer, volunteering their time to raise funds and promote research that will help other families like theirs.
Last year, St. Baldrick’s events in 46 states and 13 countries worldwide raised more than $12.9 million. For info, see www.stbaldricks.org, navigate to “find an event” and type in Georgia. Or call 1-888-899-2253.
Rowdy fan leaves singer in stitches
Four songs into Atlanta’s Attractive Eighties Women’s recent show at the EARL, “a mysterious female assailant” hurled her drink at front person Phoebe Cates, cutting his wrist and ending the gig, according to a post on the band’s Web site. Cates needed seven stitches but is on the mend and calls the episode “just an unfortunate drunken accident.” The band promises to schedule a makeup gig soon.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor John Hurt is 68. Singer Steve Perry (Journey) is 59. Actress Diane Lane (right) is 43. Rap DJ-actor Jazzy Jeff is 43. Singer Marc Gay of Shai is 39. Actor Balthazar Getty is 33. Actor Christopher Kennedy Masterson (“Malcolm in the Middle”) is 28. Singer Willa Ford is 27.
STORK REPORT
Chris Noth (above), known to “Sex in the City” fans as Mr. Big, is a father, reports E! Online. Longtime girlfriend Tara Wilson gave birth to a boy on Friday. Orion Christopher weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and everyone’s doing great.
Contributing: Chandler Brown, Jeff D’Alessio, Shane Harrison and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Snow doesn’t deter salute to King
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A resplendent crowd braved the elements Saturday night for the “Salute to Greatness” dinner, held downtown at the Hyatt Regency. During the cocktail hour, the crowd buzzed with anticipation at the social debut of Martin Luther King III and wife Arndrea. Here’s who we met:
First, Tiffany Moss, looking so cute in a tweed newsboy hat with rhinestone accents, and Deborah Williams, just exquisite in an animal print blouse.
“Dr. King braved a lot of elements for us,” said Williams, explaining her eagerness to attend despite the crummy weather.
“It’s an honor just to be in the presence of them,” Moss said of the King family.
Tunisia Hobbs was a striking vision in a scarlet dress with matching gloves. Decorative, not functional, gloves. Fashion first, y’all.
Oh, and let’s hear it for Morehouse men Henry Hicks and David Richardson. The guys were supposed to attend with their wives, but with the weather looking so iffy, the baby sitters canceled. The ladies gave their men the green light to head on without them.
“Neither of us would be here if it wasn’t for Dr. King,” Hicks said.
Speaking of Morehouse men, we were honored to meet President Robert M. Franklin. Saturday morning, he’d seen off a number of Morehouse students headed out into the cold to pitch in at various service projects. He likes to think King would be proud of “the number of students who are committed to serving others” at Morehouse.
As the crowd was heading into dinner, where civic leader Jesse Hill Jr. and Delta Air Lines were honored, we ran into V103’s Frank Ski and wife, Tanya.
“It’s so important for us to be here to support this event and the King family in general,” she said.
They were both thrilled at the just publicized news of Martin and Arndrea King’s nearly 2-year-old wedding. The couple expects a baby girl they will name Yolanda in memory of Martin King’s late sister. (Click for photos)
“I’m so happy about that,” Frank Ski said. “He was a little slick and kept it a secret.”
‘Jeopardy’ fan not singing the blues
Lilburn’s Nick Rolader, who started watching “Jeopardy” in elementary school, is into modern and classic rock. As luck would have it, when the University of Georgia junior made it onto the television quiz show, the hardest questions came from the blues music category.
“That tripped me up the most,” said Rolader, 21. The 2005 Brookwood graduate taped the show in October, and it aired last week.
“I had a bunch of friends over [to watch the show]. It was a blast,” said Rolader, who is studying history and sociology and does a little part-time catering on the side. He says he was just a question away from winning, but got $2,000 for his trouble.
“That’s not too bad,” said Rolader, who is considering law school or maybe politics. “It was just so much fun playing.”
Passing the torch at WSB
On Jan. 31, WSB newscaster Jovita Moore will take over the 5 p.m. anchor desk from Monica Pearson, who has had those duties since 1999. Moore already is handling the 5:30 p.m. duties. This is a clear indication that Moore is being positioned as Pearson’s heiress apparent. Pearson will continue at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
“It surprised me,” Moore told Buzz. “I didn’t think anything would be happening anytime soon. I thought it would be another good year or two.”
She’ll continue to do reporting dayside and be Pearson’s primary sub at night. She said Monica uttered, jokingly, “Finally!” when the news came out.
“It’s a very exciting time,” Moore said. “This newsroom has great momentum internally and externally.” CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS Actor Paul Scofield is 86. Actress Ann Wedgeworth (“Evening Shade”) is 73. Blues singer Snooks Eaglin is 72. Singer Richie Havens is 67. Singer Mac Davis is 66. Actress Jill Eikenberry is 61. Guitarist Jim Ibbotson of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is 61. Singer-songwriter Billy Ocean is 58. Actor Robby Benson (above) is 52. Actress Geena Davis is 52. Actress Charlotte Ross (“NYPD Blue”) is 40. Drummer Mark Trojanowski of Sister Hazel is 38. DJ Chris Kilmore of Incubus is 35. Singer Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) of the Spice Girls is 32. Singer Nokio of Dru Hill is 29.
OVERSCENE: Glass bottle earrings a hit
Local designer Kathleen Plate of Smart Glass Jewelry was invited to the recent Sundance Film Festival in Utah to display her jewelry in a celebrity gift suite. Actress Sienna Miller later was seen in a pair of Plate’s smart glass beer bottle earrings.
SICK BAY: No slowing down
Faith Hill, 40, has been keeping busy preparing for upcoming music engagements while she recuperates from knee surgery. “Who has time to slow down?” she said in a statement.
Contributing: Jeff D’Alessio, Rodney Ho and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Steve Harvey refuses to go over that hill
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Syndicated Atlanta DJ Steve Harvey wants men to know: “At 50, you are still fly.”
And to prove it, he shaved his head and began exercising.
In an interview in Jet magazine, the actor-comedian, whose show is broadcast locally weekdays on Grown Folks Radio 102.5 FM, says he began his transformation after talking to a listener on his radio program, “The Steve Harvey Morning Show.”
“The girl said to me, ‘Steve, you’re 50 and you are over the hill,’ ” Harvey recalls. “I started thinking, ‘Wow, I am over the hill?’ I said ‘OK, I got to do something to stop this line of thinking. Because at 50, I should not be thought of as over the hill. At 50, a man ought to feel that he is on top of the hill.’ “
He hired a personal trainer and now works out five days a week at his Atlanta home.
“I had a potbelly and love handles,” says Harvey, who’s lost 13 pounds. “I’ve been telling people you can be 50 and fly, but when I took my clothes off, I wasn’t looking fly.”
Harvey, who celebrated his 51st birthday Thursday, defines “fly” as looking great, but also being healthy and spiritually strong.
“Shaving my head was more of a spiritual thing for me. I wanted to be free,” he says.
Harvey starred with Bernie Mac and Cedric the Entertainer in 2000’s “The Original Kings of Comedy.”
He shows off his new look on the cover of Jet’s Jan. 28 issue, on newsstands Monday.
JOSH KELLEY ON HIS NEW CD, MARRIAGE
Augusta native Josh Kelley treated the syndicated TV celebrity magazine “Extra” to a private concert this week and discussed his recent nuptials with actress Katherine Heigl. Kelley is out promoting his new CD, “Special Company,” which is already No. 3 on iTunes. “I’ve never been in the Top 10, so it’s an amazing feeling. Hot diggity dog!” Kelley told “Extra” in an interview that airs Monday.
On learning the value of marital compromise, Kelley explains: “Now that I’m married and I know that she [Heigl] hates it when I’m gone for two months, we came up with a compromise. Two weeks on, two weeks off unless I’m touring with the Rolling Stones.”
As for his wife’s love scenes in “27 Dresses,” which bows in theaters this week, the singer-songwriter tells “Extra”: “I’m not a big fan. I’m OK with it now but it’s really weird. I don’t know how anybody can get used to it. I don’t think she would want me to get used to it.”
SINGER SUFFERS MISCARRIAGE
Singer Lily Allen, who announced her pregnancy just last month, has had a miscarriage.
“She and her partner, Ed Simons, will be making no further comment and we ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time,” Allen’s spokesman, Jon Bills, said Friday in a statement.
Simons, 37, is a member of The Chemical Brothers.
Allen’s cheeky debut album, “Alright, Still,” which includes the hit single “Smile,” was released in the United States last year. The 22-year-old British pop singer’s follow-up CD is expected to be released this year.
OVERSCENE
Atlanta Braves president John Schuerholz at Stats downtown noshing on cheese fondue, french onion soup dumplings and a chicken cobb salad.
CELEBRITY DOCKET
Actor Gary Collins was released from jail in California on Friday after completing his four-day drunken driving sentence.
The 69-year-old TV personality and actor left the jail just after 6 a.m., Glendale police Officer John Balian said.
Kiefer Sutherland, who is serving a 48-day sentence for drunken driving, remained at the jail. Balian said the 41-year-old actor will be released Monday.
Balian said Collins was a good prisoner and “there were no problems” during his stay.
Collins pleaded no contest Dec. 6 to one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08 percent or more. He was cited after a traffic crash in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Saturday: Actress Jean Stapleton is 85. Actress Tippi Hedren is 78. Movie director Richard Lester is 76. Singer Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers is 69. Actor-singer Michael Crawford is 66. Country singer Dolly Parton is 62. Actor Desi Arnaz Jr. is 55. Actor Shawn Wayans (“The Wayans Brothers”) is 37. Actress Drea de Matteo (“The Sopranos”) is 36.
Sunday: Singer Slim Whitman is 84. Actress Patricia Neal is 82. Director David Lynch is 62. Guitarist Paul Stanley of Kiss is 56. Actor James Denton (“Desperate Housewives”) is 45. Country singer John Michael Montgomery is 43. Actor Rainn Wilson (“The Office”) is 42. Singer Edwin McCain is 38. Actor Skeet Ulrich (“Jericho”) is 38.
ON MY iPOD and TiVo
Michael Bivins, member of New Edition and current online correspondent for TNT “OverTime”:
“I really don’t even carry an iPod, I carry my computer. I’ve never really been a download cat. But I’m listening to Nas, ‘Illmatic.’ And on my DVR, I’ve got ‘Prison Break’. My DVR is always filled up.”
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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‘Unbelievable’ support for radio’s Fram
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Radio can be one weird racket.
That’s why we were appreciative Thursday when Leslie Fram called us to discuss her unexpected departure from the 99X airwaves. Cumulus Media, the owner of 99X, has announced upcoming changes in content and a frequency alteration.
On Thursday, Fram told us that Cumulus chose not to renew her contract “in its current state.” The veteran Atlanta program director and morning show co-host told Buzz she remains under contract to Cumulus through the end of March and is due to have a meeting with station execs to discuss a possible future role with the company.
Now off the air, Fram says she’s grateful to longtime listeners who have reached out to her about her 17 years on the air in Atlanta.
Fellow female broadcasters Vikki Locke and Mara Davis sent her flowers and well wishes, while concert promoter Peter Conlon phoned to thank her and to reminisce about the many concerts the two have helped bring to the city.
“The outpouring of support has been unbelievable,” Fram told Buzz in an exclusive chat. “Sometimes in radio, you don’t stop and have a chance to look back on what you’ve done. I realize, reading e-mails from 99X listeners, that we had a real impact on people’s lives, and that’s really nice to hear.”
While she sorts through her future in radio, Fram is staying plenty busy with her interests in the downtown boutiques Luxe and 1Five0 Atlanta and the monthly “Live at 1Five0” parties at the store that feature local musicians performing and creating apparel for fans (for details, go to 150atlanta.com).
And on Thursday night, she was busy primping Layla, her rescued cocker spaniel, for her debut as a fashion model at the “Doggies on the Catwalk” benefit at Grady High School.
Cracked Fram: “Being Layla’s stage mother may be my next job! I’m just hoping she doesn’t become a diva and start demanding [concert contract] riders.”
If you’d like to e-mail Fram, you can reach her at lesliefram@mac.com.
ATLANTAN’S GOOD IDEA ON TV
Look for Grant Park resident Leslie Smith Grant, the creator of Chickin Feed, on Friday’s episode of “Rachael Ray” (3 p.m. on WXIA). The Atlanta native has developed a fun chart for kids to keep track of their daily nutritional intake. She’s due to discuss the program with the “30 Minute Meals” maker on the talk show. The new company “helps parents and children make healthy eating choices.”
“There was little discussion about nutrition in my childhood home, and I’ve always realized that the negative effects of my nutrition ignorance would catch up,” explained Smith Grant in an e-mailed release. “Hopefully by educating early on, they will not have to deal with the threat of obesity or the body issues that have become so prevalent for both sexes in our society.”
In other words, while her company is called Chickin Feed, we’re betting that Smith Grant doesn’t spend her days frying up countless portions of that kiddie fave, chicken nuggets. … For info: www.chickinfeed.com.
CELEBRITY SHUTTERBUG DOCKET
Troubled pop star Britney Spears got an approximate 17-second reprieve from paparazzi Wednesday night. Four paparazzi were arrested for reckless driving while chasing Spears’ car in the San Fernando Valley.
Los Angeles police Lt. Mario Munoz said officers observed several cars following a white Mercedes-Benz around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday in Mission Hills.
The cars were following Spears’ car too closely and traveling at unsafe speed. They also made several unsafe lane changes, authorities said.
Munoz said officers stopped the Mercedes, interviewed Spears and released the 26-year-old pop star after verifying her driver’s license.
But the four photographers in the cars chasing her were booked for investigation of reckless driving.
There was no immediate word on whether any of the four photogs included the one Spears has been seeing socially for the past few weeks, because that would be, well, awkward. …
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Singer-songwriter Bobby Goldsboro is 67. Actor-director Kevin Costner is 53. Country singer Mark Collie is 52. Actress Jane Horrocks (“Absolutely Fabulous”) is 44. Comedian Dave Attell (“Insomniac”) is 43. Actor Jesse L. Martin (“Law and Order”) is 39. Rapper DJ Quik is 38. Singer Jonathan Davis of Korn is 37. Actor Derek Richardson (“Men in Trees”) is 32. Actor Jason Segel (“How I Met Your Mother”) is 28.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We are stoked and wowed by this miracle of creation and this gift from God. … Wish us the best, keep us in your prayers, and God bless evolution.”
“Dazed and Confused” actor Matthew McConaughey, announcing his girlfriend’s pregnancy on his Web site this week.
Contributing: news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Ludacris going Singapore at restaurant
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s official: Atlanta actor, rapper and budding restaurateur Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris, will unveil his new eatery at 793 Juniper St. in Midtown this April. In a release to Buzz on Wednesday, we were informed that Straits Restaurant, with a “modern Singaporean” menu, will debut at the site of the now-shuttered Spice. The concept is an extension of three successful California eateries with the same name run by chef/owner Chris Yeo. The former hairstylist turned chef is forming a partnership with Luda to bring the rapper’s favorite food to Atlantans.
“Chris Bridges’ commitment to his community and his family sealed the deal for me,” explains Yeo. “This market is ideal for Straits and likewise Straits is perfect for the city.”
Bridges first sampled Yeo’s menu on a trip to San Francisco.
Explains Bridges: “After experiencing Yeo’s modern spin on Singaporean cuisine combined with the sexy dining, I wanted to bring this restaurant home to Atlanta.”
The Johnson Studio has been hired to bring the sexy (along with some “subtle Eastern influences”) to the eatery’s interiors. The 215-seat restaurant will be open for dinner starting this spring.
For an advance peek at potential menu offerings here, including sake sampler flights, a lemongrass beef entree, whole lobster and shrimp pad Thai and inventive vegetarian offerings, go to www.straitsrestaurants.com.
A DALMATIAN FOR DAVIS ON CATWALK
When we saw Dave FM midday DJ Mara Davis’ name on the list of local notables participating at tonight’s “Doggies on the Catwalk” PALS benefit fashion show at Grady High School in Midtown, our left eyebrow arched. Sure enough, Davis will be strutting down the runway tonight with a loaner Dalmatian. After the birth of her son Charlie, Davis had to give away Daisy, her beloved terrier mix who was decidedly not as kid-friendly as her owner. “Daisy retired to Boca [Raton, Fla.,] with my mother Arlene,” Davis told us Wednesday. “They’re kinda like the ‘Golden Girls’ down there now!” Davis will be joined on the runway tonight by media folks Monica Pearson, Leslie Fram, Tom Sullivan and others.
The canine couture has been created by the wonderfully imaginative kids at Grady High’s UrbanCouture program. The show starts at 8 p.m. For tickets: www.palsatlanta.org.
Oh, and FYI: Davis tells us that Arlene (a rock star in her own right with the Dave audience) will be back in the studio during her daughter’s air shift Friday for a noontime “Radio Free Lunch” theme somehow tied to Barry Manilow’s (Arlene is a Fanilow, natch) appearance at Philips Arena this weekend.
OVERSCENE
Atlanta Braves teammates Mark Teixeira, Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann, er, catching up at the Atlanta Fish Market in Buckhead. We’re told the boys’ night out included generous orders of sushi, grouper, skate wing, sea bass and the eatery’s signature fried lobster tail, all from executive chef Robert Holley.
A PEACH-Y PROMOTION
Most working women well into their third trimester don’t dangle their water-retaining feet into unchartered career territory. Atlanta Peach’s Elizabeth Schulte Roth isn’t like most of her multitasking peers.
This week, Schulte Roth has been promoted from the Atlanta-based glossy’s editor in chief to its publisher.
“She’s a natural fit to lead our Atlanta sales team as we continue to grow,” Niche Media Holdings president Jerry Powers told Buzz via e-mail. Added Schulte Roth when we spoke to her Wednesday: “Jerry is probably one of the most persuasive men I’ve ever met, given how pregnant I am! But this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
Schulte Roth is due at the end of this month just when she’s also due to deliver a speech at a conference of Niche Media publishers here in Atlanta.
Cracked Schulte Roth: “I’m just praying my water doesn’t break. My husband swears he’s confiscating my BlackBerry on the way to the delivery room.”
HIGH FIVE
Television
The Top Five On Demand programs for the week of Jan. 7-13, as determined by Comcast customers in metro Atlanta:
1. “The Wire” Episode 52, HBO
2. “Family Guy: “Blind Ambition” episode, TBS
3. “I Remember” Keyshia Cole, music video, Music Choice
4. “I’m so Hood” DJ Khaled, music video, Music Choice
5. “With You” Chris Brown, music video, Music Choice
— Courtesy: Rentrak’s OnDemand Essentials
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actress Betty White is 86. Actress-singer Eartha Kitt is 81. Actor James Earl Jones is 77. Talk show host Maury Povich is 69. Singer Steve Earle is 53. Actor-comedian Steve Harvey is 51. Actor Jim Carrey is 46. Actor Naveen Andrews (“Lost”) is 39. Musician Kid Rock (right) is 37. Actor Freddy Rodriguez (“Ugly Betty”) is 33. Actress Zooey Deschanel (“Elf,” “The Good Girl”) is 28. Singer Ray J is 27.
Contributing: News services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Eddie and Tracey: Game over
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You’ve heard of dog years, right? Well, let’s just go ahead and say this item happened in celebrity years, as in, when you’re famous, life takes place at about 250 times faster than normal.
Which is why Eddie Murphy and brand new bride Tracey Edmonds have called it apparently quits after only a couple weeks.
The comedian and actor issued a statement to several online media outlets, including People.com and TMZ.com, which reported the breakup on their sites.
The couple wed in Bora Bora after a six-month engagement, but the ceremony was symbolic, and Murphy and Edmonds did not pursue a legal ceremony.
“After much consideration and discussion, we have jointly decided that we will forego [sic] having a legal ceremony as it is not necessary to define our relationship further,” the statement read. The couple (?) will remain friends, however. Thank goodness – we were all very worried.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Bivins picks these hoofing hoopsters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With Hollywood studios canceling writers’ contracts as a result of the lingering strike, viewers are sure to see even more reality TV in the future. Basketball junkie Michael Bivins of New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe fame, now an online correspondent for TNT OverTime on NBA.com, suggested players from five teams with the moves to make it big on a show like “So You Think You Can Dance.”
1. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, Boston. (“The Celtics’ Big Three has been dancing all over the competition.”)
2. Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks. (“We know he can get up on the court, so I’m sure he can get down on the dance floor.”)
3. Steve Nash, Phoenix. (“With his moves, I’m sure he can do the Soulja Boy without breaking a sweat.”)
4. Shaquille O’Neal, Miami. (“ShaqFu looks like he still has all of his pop ‘n lock moves.”)
5. Allen Iverson, Denver. (“He can break ankles on the dance floor just like he does on the court.”)
THE SCOOP ON THE FLOWER SHOW
All right, ready to dish some dirt? No, we mean the real kind.
The 2008 Southeastern Flower Show’s opening night party, planned for 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Georgia World Congress Center, raises money for the Legacy Garden program. Last year’s Legacy recipient was the Shepherd Center, and we stopped by Tuesday afternoon.
“It was a blessing for us,” Shepherd horticulture specialist Debi Cziok said. “We were honored to have been chosen.”
The garden, just a rock’s throw from busy Peachtree Street, is a cozy nook of raised beds planted with pansies, snapdragons, ornamental grasses, rosemary and camellias. The beds’ heights vary, allowing patients to access them from manual or motorized wheelchairs. Patients can help with tasks like weeding, or just enjoy the garden with their families. Some have created “yard art” — like stones decorated with college team colors or happy sayings. Charles Wayne, recovering from a motorcycle accident, has been at Shepherd since October. He used to garden with his mother growing up, and always cut his grass and his neighbor’s. In fact, his lawn manicuring skills became so good that it became a side business for him. Today, Wayne enjoys getting out in the sun and spending time in the garden at Shepherd.
“This is a getaway for people,” Cziok said.
This year’s Legacy Garden recipient will be Shepherd’s next-door neighbor, Piedmont Hospital. The program will enhance the Byrd Barrier-Free Garden, used for rehabilitative horticultural therapy, as well as a deck outside the Infusion Center. Patients and their families can enjoy the tranquil garden area during chemotherapy and other therapeutic drug infusions.
The Legacy Garden program was started in 1994, and other recipients have included the Wesley Woods Hospital, the Emory Winship Cancer Institute and Oakland Cemetery.
So, back to the gala.
The chairs are Mary Wayne Dixon and Ginger Dixon Molloy. WSB’s Jovita Moore will serve as gala host, along with colleagues Chuck Dowdle and David Chandley. Hirtle, Callaghan & Co. is sponsoring the gala. Tickets to the black-tie event are $200. Call 404-351-1074.
Beth and Tom Ventulett are the show’s honorary chairs, and Timothy Martin is the show artist. The 21st annual Southeastern Flower Show is Jan. 30 through Feb. 3. The show chair is Nan Henson. Info: www.flowershow.org.
STRIKE MAY AFFECT GRAMMYS TELECAST
The striking Hollywood writers guild likely will bar its members from working on next month’s Grammys telecast, a union spokesman said Tuesday.
Grammy organizers have yet to ask for a waiver allowing writers to work on the show — and if requested, “it is unlikely to be granted,” Writers Guild of America spokesman Gregg Mitchell said.
The Recording Academy said it did not have an immediate comment.
Meanwhile, the guild said it would allow its members to work on the NAACP Image Awards and would not picket the Feb. 14 show at the Shrine Auditorium.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Country singer Ronnie Milsap is 65. Talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger is 61. Director John Carpenter is 60. Actress-dancer Debbie Allen is 58. Singer Sade is 49. Singer Maxine Jones of En Vogue is 42. Supermodel Kate Moss (above) is 34. Guitarist Nick Valensi of The Strokes is 27.
ON MY iPOD/TIVO
“I’ve got a whole lot of Musiq Soulchild, Earth, Wind and Fire, Brandy, this bad sister named Angie Stone, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield,” offered Stone, who is performing Sunday at Utopia, 840 Marietta St. “And I’ve got a TiVO but I have not hooked it up yet. … If I did, of course, ‘The Wire’ or whatever Idris [Elba] is on, would be on.” (Elba, an actor killed off on the HBO series “The Wire,” also produced a single on Stone’s latest CD, “The Art of Love & War.” “I’m the first artist he’s produced, publicly,” Stone said. “He’s one of my best friends. He’s incredible.”)
— Angie Stone (above), R&B singer and recent Atlanta transplant
Contributing: Jeff D’Alessio, Sonia Murray and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Lyrical gift from Indigo Girls in memory of slain hiker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In media interviews last week, Steve Segars, the boyfriend of slain North Georgia mountain hiker Meredith Emerson, discussed how the music of the Indigo Girls helped to form a special bond between the couple as they were getting to know each other.
Segars said that for Christmas, he and Emerson had even surprised each other with tickets to the Atlanta acoustic duo’s upcoming show Jan. 24 at the Classic Center in Athens.
The two had a particular fondness for the love song ̶